Police search for man who attacked 3 women in southwest suburbs

PALOS HILLS, Ill. (WLS) -- Police are searching for a man who attacked three women in the southwest suburbs.

Police said the first attack happened Friday morning when a woman in Palos Hills was sexually assaulted and robbed.

Detectives said the man pointed a gun at the woman as she got out of her car near the Hickory Hills Country Club at an apartment complex in the 8500-block of West 103rd Street, ordering her to drive to another location where he assaulted her and fled on foot with her purse.

Police said they think the same man also tried to carjack another woman and kidnapped a third in Hickory Hills.

Those two attacks happened within minutes of each other Tuesday night in a parking lot near 96th Street and Roberts Road at the Hickory-Palos Mall. The attempted carjacking victim told police the offender displayed a handgun before trying to enter her vehicle.

At the mall between Palos Hills and Hickory Hills, a small business owner said she was frustrated.

"I have employees leaving at 8:30 or 9 o'clock at night, so we've told them no one leaves alone and you look out before you leave," said Marcia Hite.

Hickory Hills police said they are working with the Southwest Major Crimes Task Force to find the offender.

Women are being urged to use caution especially as they get in and out of their cars.